1 


I.  C*  Enriques 


The  Religious  Question 
in  Mexico 


? F 

I 1234 
I . E59 
I 1915 


r F 1234  . E59  1915 
Enr  iques,  Ignacio  C.,  1889- 
The  religious  question  in 
Mexico 


The  Rel  lgious  Question  m Mexico 


BY  A MEXICAN  CATHOLIC 


/ 

I.  C.  ENRIQUEZ 

CATHEDRAL  PLAZA  APARTMENTS 
New  York,  1915. 


https://archive.org/details/religiousquestioOOenri 


THE  RELIGIOUS  QUESTION  IN  MEXICO 
I.  C.  Enriquez 

So  much  has  been  written  about  the  religious  difficulties  in  Mexico, 
so  many  groundless  accusations  against  the  Constitutionalists  have 
been  made  by  the  Catholic  Clergy,  that  I,  as  a faithful  Catholic  and 
Mexican  revolutionist,  feel  it  necessary  to  answer  the  numerous 
charges  which  are  being  unjustly  heaped  upon  us.  It  is  a lamentable 
i fact  that  everyone  of  our  accusers,  either  wilfully  or  through  sheer 
• ignorance,  is  overlooking  the  most  important  laws  of  the  Mexican 
Constitution.  They  seem  utterly  ignorant  of  the  history  and  the  con- 
ditions of  the  country,  its  people  and  its  aims,  about  which  they  are 
writing.  Every  one  of  them  is  hiding  behind  the  cloak  of  religious 
bigotry  and  in  the  name  of  Christianity  and  the  Catholic  religion  tries 
to  bring  naught  but  sorrow  to  a people  that  is  struggling  for  justice 
and  independence. 

It  is  a sad  commentary  upon  the  Knights  of  Columbus  Organiza- 
tion when  it  permits  its  organ  to  be  used  by  a man  who  is  afraid  to 
sign  his  name  to  any  article  or  argument  that  he  may  wish  to  present 
to  them.  Who  is  this  man  who,  for  fear  of  divulging  his  name,  signs 
himself  “An  American  Citizen.”  Why  does  he  fear  to  make  his  name 
known?  Is  it  because  he  had  the  audacity  to  attack  President  Wilson’s 
policies,  or  is  it  because  within  his  heart  he  realizes  that  he  is  not 
telling  the  whole  truth  about  a question  of  great  import  to  millions  of 
struggling  Mexicans? 

The  alleged  influence  of  Masonry  in  the  present  revolution  of 
Mexico,  as  claimed  by  many  Catholics,  is  absolutely  without  founda- 
tion. Every  one  who  knows  anything  at  all  is  aware  of  the 
fact  that  Masonry  in  Mexico  is  nothing  more  than  a huge  joke.  That 
the  Catholics  are  harboring  wrong  notions  on  the  subject,  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  Huerta’s  and  Carbajal’s  special  representative  at 
Washington,  Jose  Castello,  was  a prominent  Mason.  Huerta  sent  him 
here  under  the  impression  that  he  would  be  assisted  by  his  brother 
Masons,  but  he  soon  discovered  that  the  Masonic  Order  would  not 
mingle  in  politics,  or  have  anything  to  do  with  the  Mexican  affairs. 

3 


The  whole  question  of  Masonry  and  its  influence  in  Mexican 
politics  as  argued  by  the  many  American  Catholics,  is  en  exploded 
theory,  it  is  an  attempt  to  discuss  a subject  they  always  feared  and 
and  did  not  comprehend. 

If  the  men  who  plead  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  Mexican  Clergy, 
are  to  be  taken  at  their  word,  it  would  seem  that  the  whole  Mexican 
Nation  is  composed  of  inconsiderate  brutes  and  beasts.  They  would 
like  to  create  the  impression  that  murder  and  rapine  are  rampant  in 
that  country,  and  that  the  main  attacks  are  directed  against  the  Catholic 
Clergy.  Nothing  is  more  ridiculous  than  such  accusations.  As  a 
Mexican  who  has  fought  in  the  revolution  against  Huerta,  and  as  a 
Catholic,  I know  that  every  Mexican  is  at  heart  a faithful  believer 
in  the  Mother  Church.  More  than  once  I have  seen  hundreds  of 
soldiers  kneel  in  prayer  imploring  the  Almighty  that  he  might  bring 
peace  to  our  land  of  strife ! The  first  thing  our  soldiers  did  when  we 
entered  a city  was  to  seek  out  the  houses  of  worship  and  offer  our 
prayers  in  thanks  to  Him  who  brought  us  victory.  No,  nothing  is 
more  false  than  the  accusation  that  the  Mexican  people  are  against 
the  Catholic  Church  and  its  priests. 

To  understand  the  true  causes  and  reasons  of  dissension  and  strife 
between  the  people  and  certain  members  of  the  High  Catholic  Clergy, 
one  must  go  back  to  the  first  struggles  of  Mexico  against  the  Spanish 
domination.  It  is  the  same  struggle.  The  same  battles  which  the 
Mexicans  fought  a hundred  years  ago,  they  are  fighting  over  to-day. 
Unfortunately,  with  the  end  of  the  Spanish  domination  and  the  libera- 
tion from  the  Spanish  yoke,  all  the  roots  of  he  evil  influences  left  by 
that  regime  were  not  torn  out.  The  rulers  of  Spain  left,  but  many  of 
their  harmful  institutions  staid  behind,  and  it  is  against  these  institu- 
tions, which  have  been  slowly  devouring  the  minds  of  the  Mexican 
people,  which  usurped  all  their  rights,  and  kept  them  in  ignorance, 
that  we  Mexicans  are  still  fighting  and  struggling  against. 

To  say  that  we  are  nothing  short  of  murderers,  that  we  wantonly 
persecute  the  priests  and  the  nuns,  is  to  slander  the  Mexican  nation. 
They  are  falsehoods  which  are  being  utilized  by  certain  men  in  this 
country  who  are  seeking  the  intervention  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment in  Mexico.  They  are  working  hand  in  hand  with  the  enemies  of 
Mexican  freedom;  they  are  the  evil  forces  which  are  seeking  to  curb 
the  independence  of  our  country. 


4 


One  need  only  go  back  to  the  history  of  Mexico  to  see  that  it  is 
the  lower  clergy  who  have  always  championed  the  cause  of  the  poor 
and  the  oppressed.  It  was  native  members  of  the  Church,  who  led 
the  rebellion  against  the  Spanish  domination.  So  long  as  there  is  a 
Mexican  or  any  other  lover  of  freedom,  the  names  of  Miguel  Hidalgo, 
Jose  Maria  Morelos  and  others  too  numerous  to  mention,  will  never 
be  forgotten.  They  were  priests.  They  were  Catholics  who  had  the 
interests  of  the  people  at  heart.  They  were  true  Christians  who 
realized  the  plight  of  the  people  and  who,  at  their  own  sacrifice,  led 
the  people  in  revolt  against  the  iron  rule  of  Spain.  Does  any  one 
believe  that  a nation  which  attained  its  freedom  by  the  aid  of  its  priests, 
would,  a few  years  later,  turn  against  them?  Is  any  one  naive  enough 
to  believe  that? 

But  the  priests  who  fought  for  the  liberty  of  the  Mexican  peons, 
are  not  the  high  Church-dignitaries  of  to-day.  During  the  three  hun- 
dred years  of  Spanish  rule  over  Mexico,  the  church  comprised  the 
secular  and  the  regular  clergy.  The  entire  country  was  covered  with 
convents  and  monasteries,  filled  with  friars  and  nuns,  for  the  most 
part  living  in  idleness  on  the  labors  of  the  starved  poens.  At  the  time 
of  the  conquest,  the  King  of  Spain  had  given  vast  grants  of  land  to 
the  various  religious  orders.  They  were  empowered  to  do  anything 
they  desired,  so  long  as  they  kept  the  Mexicans  in  submission.  They 
had  the  legal  rights  to  enslave  those  who  lived  on  the  estates  granted 
to  them  by  the  King,  and  christianize  them.  Those  who  failed  to  obey, 
or  showed  the  least  sign  of  disobedience,  were  punished  with  the  well- 
known  “Spanish  Inquisition,”  the  tortures  of  hell.  Not  content  with 
their  enormous  original  land-grants,  the  priests  continually  used  their 
power  to  withhold  Extreme  Unction  from  the  dying,  as  a means  of 
obtaining  death-bed  inheritances.  By  such  practises,  the  Church  and 
certain  high  dignitaries  of  the  church,  became  the  Supreme  Power  of 
Mexico.  With  it  also  came  the  members  of  the  church  who  were 
from  the  people,  and  who  saw  within  the  Christian  Doctrine,  not  means 
of  attaining  fabulous  wealth,  but  of  securing  liberty  and  justice  for 
a suffering  people.  They  were  the  Morelos,  the  Hidalgos,  and  others. 

Thus  it  was  that  the  Mexican  people  have  learned  to  discern  the 
difference  between  the  High  Clergy,  who  grafted  and  lived  off  the 
poor,  and  the  poor  clergy  who  helped  the  people  and  fought  for  them. 
It  was  to  those  poor  native  priests  that  the  oppressed  and  town-trod- 
den Mexicans  went,  in  time  of  dire  need.  They  felt  and  knew  that 


5 


those  priests  were  the  true  representatives  of  the  Mother  Church,  and 
not  those  foreign,  rich  Spaniards  or  Frenchmen  who  lived  on  the  fat 
of  the  land. 


To  illustrate  what  a power  of  wealth  the  church  was  in  Mexico, 
I will  quote  “Mexico  a traves  de  los  Siglos,”  Vol.  IV,  Page  317. 

“With  the  exception  of  a certain  amount  of  land  owned  by  the  aristocracy, 
almost  all  the  valuable  lands  of  Mexico  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Church,  and 
even  those  not  so  owned  were  under  heavy  mortgage  to  her,  or  were  crushed 
with  tithings  and  taxes  which  went  into  her  coffers.” 

The  same  historian  has  this  to  say  about  the  higher  clergy : 

“The  clergy,  mainly  the  higher  officials,  had  accumulated  and  taken  out 
of  circulation  an  incalculable  quantity  of  riches.  In  1809  the  tithings  of  six 
Bishops  amounted  to  the  sum  of  $2,500,000 — immense  wealth  in  those  days. 
There  were  Bishops  and  Archbishops  whose  salaries  amounted  to  more  than 
$100,000  a year.  Indeed,  a careful  estimate  of  the  revenue  of  the  Church,  just 
previous  to  the  War  of  Independence,  reveals  the  enormous  figure  of  $50,000,000 
a year.” 


It  is  but  natural  for  any  people  which  has  been  burdened  with  such 
obligations,  to  rebel.  No  matter  how  law-abiding  or  God-fearing 
they  might  be,  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  endure  the  shameless 
conduct  of  the  high  dignitaries  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  struggles 
for  independence  were  but  the  beginning  of  a real  uprising,  against 
the  stifling  power  of  the  Church.  The  Church  had  become  such  a 
powerful  force  in  the  political  life,  due  to  its  enormous  possessions 
that  it  could  change  the  government  any  time  it  wished  to  do  so.  The 
people  realized  that  they  were  at  the  mercy  of  a few  foreign  high 
church  dignitaries,  who  could  perform  with  their  governments  acro- 
batic tricks  similar  to  those  performed  by  a Japanese  juggler  with  his 
five  balls.  A change  was  necessary,  and  it  came  after  a three  years’ 
struggle,  from  1857  to  1860. 

The  first  important  article  of  the  Constitution  of  1857,  (Las  Leyes 
de  Reforma)  dealt  precisely  with  that  sore  upon  the  life  of  the  Mexi- 
can Nation.  Here  it  is  : 

Article  1.  The  immediate  suppression  of  all  monasteries  and  convents,  and 
the  immediate  and  complete  confiscation  of  all  church  property,  to  the  use  of  the 
Nation. 

Article  V.  The  establishment  of  civil  recording  authorities  for  births, 
marriages  and  deaths,  thus  abolishing  the  much  abused  privilege  of  the  Church 
in  the  matter  of  establishing  the  civil  status  of  persons. 


6 


It  will  be  noticed  from  these  articles,  that  the  revolution  was 
greatly  concerned  with  the  powers  of  the  Church,  and  that  it  devoted 
much  of  the  new  Constitution  to  the  elimination  and  the  divorce  of 
the  Church  from  the  State.  However,  it  will  be  borne  witness  by  any 
one  who  lived  in  Mexico  any  length  of  time,  that  every  one  was  ac- 
corded religious  liberty  and  that  every  one  had  the  right  to  worship 
his  God. 

But  I will  not  even  attempt  to  answer  all  the  charges  that  are 
being  showered  upon  us.  I will  let  someone  else  tell  the  story  of  our 
struggles  and  our  plight.  I will  quote  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Buttler  who 
has  been  a missionary  in  Mexico  for  forty  years.  I have  never  met  the 
gentlement  and  do  not  know  who  he  is.  My  first  knowledge  of  him 
came  when  I read  his  open  letter  to  the  New  York  Evening  Post.  In 
this  letter  he  frankly  tells  the  sad  story  of  our  miserable  life,  our 
futile  attempts  to  free  ourselves  from  the  yoke  of  centuries  of  slavery, 
and  our  heroic  fight  to  keep  up  with  the  march  of  civilization,  regard- 
less of  the  stifling  influence  of  the  many  reactionary  forces. 

I will  not  touch  the  phase  of  his  letter  in  which  he  shows  the  un- 
fairness of  the  American  attitude  towards  our  political  upheaval,  nor 
will  I quote  him  where  he  answers  the  many  groundless  accusations 
of  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt.  I will  confine  myself  to  the  religious 
question  only.  The  letter  appeared  on  January  5th,  1915. 

Mexican  historians  make  clear  why  such  drastic  measures  were  necessarily 
incorporated  into  the  Constitution  and  emphasized  by  the  reform  laws  of  1859. 
It  was,  as  one  of  them  says,  “because  the  Church  became  a very  prominent 
factor  in  politics  and  could  upset  and  establish  governments  at  its  pleasure, 
fomenting  the  many  revolutions  which  were  constantly  breaking  out.”  (Romero, 
Page  94).  Therefore,  it  was  that  the  political  power  of  the  Church  was 
destroyed  by  effecting  a complete  independence  of  the  Church  and  State,  and 
the  confiscation  of  all  Church  property  from  the  most  magnificent  cathedral  to 
the  smallest  chapel,  and  from  the  most  extensive  convent  to  the  humblest 
shrine  in ' the  country.  Hence  all  Church  property  not  built  in  recent  years 
belongs  to  the  Government,  which,  in  turn,  gives  a free  lease  to  the  Church  of 
such  edifices  as  are  required  for  public  worship.  All  this  was  brought  to  pass 
by  the  Liberal  party,  whose  members  lived  and  died  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
fold,  though  they  were  decidedly  opposed  to  the  Church  as  a political  institution. 
Rare  indeed  the  case  when  a Liberal  declared  himself  opposed  to  Christianity. 
We  repeat,  then,  that  reports  of  the  confiscating  of  Church  property  in  these 
days  is  a mistake — such  confiscation  occurred  nearly  sixty  years  ago. 

“Another  mistaken  charge  is  that  the  present  leaders  of  the  revolution  are 
expelling  priests,  nuns,  and  other  religious  orders  from  Mexico.  The  same 
reason  given  above  as  to  the  political  influence  of  the  Church  applied,  and  with 
special  force,  to  all  secret  religious  orders.  Hence  in  1873  Mexico  believed 
it  was  for  her  best  interests  to  promulgate  additional  reform  laws,  which 
expelled  all  such  secret  societies  from  the  country.  In  this  they  only  did  what 
several  countries  in  Latin  America  and  many  countries  in  Europe  had  found 
it  necessary  to  do  before  them.  (1)  Now  if  Jesuits,  nuns,  and  members  of  the 

7 


kindred  orders  have  recently  been  found  in  Mexico  they  were  there  against  the  law, 
of  the  existence  of  which  they  certainly  were  not  ignorant.  If  any  previous 
Administration  “winked”  at  their  presence,  that  did  not  signify  a justification 
for  their  remaining,  and  certainly  the  present  authorities  were  fully  authorized 
in  reminding  them  of  the  law. 

“It  has  also  been  asserted  that  many  of  the  clergy  have  recently  been 
expelled  from  the  country.  I believe,  absolutely,  in  toleration  and  protection 
for  the  followers  of  all  creeds.  The  Constitution  of  1857  provides  not  only 
for  the  separation  of  church  and  state,  but  it  also  guarantees  full  religious 
liberty.  This  means  for  Roman  Catholic,  Protestant,  or  Jew,  and  no  one  has 
more  reason  to  be  grateful  for  these  reasonable  and  just  provisions  of  the 
Constitution  than  the  ancient  people  of  God  whose  descendants  in  Mexico 
were,  in  former  times  subjected  to  much  cruel  treatment  simply  for  following 
the  faith  of  their  fathers.  (2) 

“Now,  it  appears  true  that  a considerable  number  of  priests  have  been  sent 
out  of  the  country,  but  the  revolutionists  claim  that  all  such  were  foreigners 
and  had  given  provocation.  They  likewise  claim  that  many  of  these  left 
“because  of  troubled  consciences,”  or  for  fear  they  might  be  expelled.  All 
foreigners  who  have  resided  in  Mexico,  whether  priest  or  laymen,  knew  of  the 
existence  of  the  famous  thirty-third  article  of  the  Constitution.  This  article 
was  framed  at  a time  when  these  secret  orders  were  giving  trouble  to  the 
Government,  and  it  empowers  the  authorities  to  expel  from  the  republic,  without 
process  of  law,  any  foreigner  found  meddling  with  politics.  We  readily  confess 
it  is  a tremendous  power  to  place  in  the  hands  of  any  man.  But  the  experi- 
ence of  the  past  called  it  into  existence,  and  few  are  the  foreigners  in  that 
land  who  have  not  heard  of  thirty-third  article,  and  who  have  not  a clear 
understanding  of  its  significance. 


That,  however,  is  not  the  whole  story  concerning  the  high  Catholic 
clergy.  Of  late  much  has  been  written  about  the  ignorance  and  im- 
morality prevalent  among  the  poorer  classes  of  the  Mexican  populace. 
It  is  said  that  a large  majority  of  them  totally  disregard  the  marriage 
ceremony  and  live  in  open  violation  of  the  sacraments  of  marriage. 
What  the  causes  and  reasons  are  for  such  religious  transgressions  has 
never  been  offered  by  any  of  the  accusers  of  Mexico's  poor.  One  thing 
is  certain  and  that  is  that  the  peons  or  Indians  are  not  violating  any 
of  the  canons  of  the  church  because  they  have  ceased  to  believe  in  it. 
Far  be  it  from  such.  An  investigation  has  proven  that  the  price  for 
marriage  sacraments,  instituted  by  the  high  Catholic  clergy,  is  so  un- 
reasonably high  that  it  almost  impossible  for  the  poor  to  meet  it.  In 
this  manner  they  are  practically  forced  by  the  church  dignitaries 
themselves  to  violate  the  canons  of  the  church. 

(1)  This  statement  is  not  quite  correct;  European  countries  divorced  the 
church  from  the  State  many  years  after  Mexico  had  set  the  example. 

(2)  Before  the  overthrow  of  Spanish  rule  in  Mexico,  the  Inquisition  burned 
several  Jews  at  the  stake  for  refusing  to  be  converted  to  the  Catholic  faith. 


8 


That  demands  for  the  lowering  of  the  prices  for  various  sacra- 
ments has  been  made  by  the  populace  of  Mexico  is  well  known  to  any 
one  who  has  lived  there.  That  those  demands  were  made  in  vain, 
that  the  high  Catholic  dignitaries  absolutely  refused  to  comply  with 
the  demands  of  the  poor  is  well  known  to  every  one  in  Mexico.  To 
illustrate  the  benighted  ways  and  means  utilized  by  certain  high  clergy- 
men I will  quote  Carlo  de  Fornaro  from  his  book  “Diaz,  Czar  of 
Mexico.” 

“The  following  incident  will  exemplify  the  insidious  and  treacher- 
ous ways  used  by  the  clericals  to  surpress  opposition  or  liberalism  in 
their  midst. 

In  1901  a priest  called  Joachin  Perez,  50  years  old,  wrote  to  Mon- 
signor Averadi,  apostolic  delegate,  letters  in  which  he  begged  for  the 
modification  of  the  high  tariff  for  the  administration  of  the  sacra- 
ments. The  petition  was  signed  by  thousands  of  Catholics.  Mon- 
signor Averadi  diplomatically  answered  that  he  would  consult  the 
Pope.  But  instead  of  so  doing,  the  Archbishop  of  Puebla  and  the 
Monsignor  gave  a private  dinner  to  Mucio  Martinez,  Governor  of 
Puebla,  and  convinced  him  that  Perez  was  hatching  a political  con- 
spiracy. 

By  .order  of  the  Governor  the  unfortunate  priest  was  attacked 
in  his  parish,  at  Atlixco,  at  midnight,  beaten  and  then  taken  to  jail. 
All  his  property  and  chattels  were  confiscated  and  although  suffering 
from  rheumatism,  he  was  kept  in  confinement  for  over  fourteen 
months.  Eventually  through  the  efforts  of  his  sister,  who  went  to 
beg  the  intervention  of  her  uncle,  Ignacio  Mariscal,  Minister  of  foreign 
affairs,  he  was  freed.” 

The  instance  sighted  by  Carlo  de  Fornaro  is  one  of  hundreds  that 
can  be  brought  to  show  wherein  the  high  Catholic  dignitaries  always 
acted  against  the  interests  and  desires  of  the  poor  and  oppressed. 

But  the  greatest  tragedy  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Mexico  is 
that  it  is  a house  very  much  divided  against  itself.  It  possesses  no  unity 
of  purpose,  it  has  no  honest  desire  to  uplift,  to  educate  and  alleviate 
the  needs  and  sorrows  of  the  masses.  The  true  condition  of  the 
Catholic  Church  is  that  it  is  composed  of  wealthy,  foreign,  high 
clergymen  and  of  poor  priests  who  are  native  Mexicans  and  Indians. 
Those  native  priests  have  a complete  understanding  of  the  hopes,  aims 
and  desires  of  the  poor  people.  The  wealthy,  foreign  high  church 


9 


dignitaries  have  always  brought  naught  but  sorrow  upon  Mexico.  They 
were  responsible  for  French  intervention,  it  is  they  who  in  the  present 
struggle  are  trying  to  bring  about  the  intervention  of  the  United  States. 
Instead  of  ministering  to  the  soul  needs  of  the  Mexicans,  the  shame- 
lessly indulge  in  the  low  game  of  politics.  They  intrique,  they  scheme. 
They  are  the  friends  of  the  reactionary  forces;  the  kow-towed  with 
Diaz  when  he  was  in  power  and  used  Huerta  and  his  henchman,  Dr. 
Urrutia,  when  they  reigned  supreme.  It  will  be  seen  from  this  that  the 
Mexican  people  can  have  no  love  for  those  high  church  dignitaries, 
who  always  allied  themselves  with  their  enemies.  In  fact,  they  were 
the  enemies  for  they  always  upheld  the  benighted  forces,  of  Mexico. 

The  shameless  manner  in  which  the  high  Catholic  clergy  forsook 
their  religious  offices  and  dabbled  in  politics  is  illustrated  by  the 
numerous  letters  which  were  left  behind  by  Dr.  Aureliano  Urrutia, 
Minister  of  Interior  in  the  Huerta  cabinet.  In  the  letters  left  behind 
by  him  it  is  to  be  seen  that  the  Catholic  clergymen  were  the  real  law- 
breakers of  the  country,  violating  wilfully  and  maliciously  every  law 
that  has  been  set  down  by  the  Constitution  of  1857.  They  did  it  quite 
openly,  without  hesitation  and  witlj  branzeness  that  is  not  at  all  ecclesi- 
astic. 

When  Dr.  Urrutia  scented  danger  and  saw  that  the  diabolic  ,rule 
of  Huerta  was  about  to  crumble  into  dust,  he  did  not  waste  any  time 
in  leaving  the  country.  In  fact,  he  was  in  such  a hurry  to  get  out  that 
he  left  behind  him  all  his  archives,  consisting  of  many  letters  written 
to  him  by  various  high  church  dignitaries,  such  as  Bishops,  Arch- 
bishops and  others.  All  those  Dr.  Urrutia  pilled  into  a basket  and 
turned  over  to  an  old  woman  for  safekeeping.  The  dear  old  lady 
hardly  realized  what  historic  documents  were  in  her  possession. 

It  is  a sad  commentary  upon  the  dignity  of  the  Catholic  church 
when  its  highest  clergymen  plan  the  overthrow  of  laws  and  order  at- 
tained by  the  people  after  a struggle  lasting  three  years.  And  that  is 
just  what  they  did.  In  one  of  the  letters  Archbishop  Mora  of  Mexico 
suggested  that  Dr.  Urrutia  secure  a million  dollars  for  the  Catholic 
Church  for  alleged  damages.  Both  Archbishop  Mora  and  Dr.  Urrutia 
were  fully  congizant  of  the  fact  that  they  were  acting  against  the  laws 
of  the  constitution.  They  knew  that  they  violated  the  sacred  principles 
of  a constitution  for  which  thousands  died.  How  can  such  men  like 
Archbishop  Mora  and  Urrutia  command  respect  when  they  are  secret- 
ly planning  to  violate  the  laws  of  the  country? 


10 


Is  it  at  all  surprising  that  Constitutionalists  are  forced  to  drive 
them  out  of  the  country,  especially  when  they  wantomly  ignore  the 
laws  ? 

The  thing  that  strikes  me  as  most  peculiar  at  the  present  time  is 
the  loud  cries  which  the  Catholics  are  raising  against  the  Constitu- 
tionalist forces.  At  the  same  time  while  they  are  demanding  pro- 
tection for  their  coreligionists  in  Mexico,  Germany  is  devastating 
one  catholic  country  after  another.  The  Mexican  revolutionists  never 
have  made  ancient  and  gorgeous  cathedrals  the  targets  of  their  shells, 
as  the  Germans  have  done.  One  cathedral  after  another  was  destroyed 
by  the  Germans  who  invaded  Belgium  and  France.  Nothing  of  that 
sort  ever  happened  in  Mexico.  Still  not  a whisper  has  been  heard 
from  the  Catholics  of  this  country  against  German  barbarism.  Is  it 
not  strange  that  they  should  not  ask  the  United  States  Government  to 
intervene  in  behalf  of  the  oppressed  Catholics  in  Belgium,  while  they 
demand  immediate  action  in  Mexico.  What  are  the  reason  that  they 
shut  their  eyes  to  real  atrocities  in  Belgium,  while  they  are  so  care- 
fully watching  events  in  Mexico?  The  truth  of  the  matter  is  that  the 
high  Catholic  clergymen  are  awakening  to  the  fact  that  the  success  of 
the  Constitutionalists  means  the  carrying  out  of  the  laws  of  1857.  It 
means  the  divorce  of  the  church  from  the  state.  It  means  the  end  of 
the  influence  of  the  Catholic  clergymen  in  affairs  of  the  state.  The 
high  catholic  dignitaries  are  realizing  that  their  power  is  coming  to  an 
end  and  the  only  way  possibly  to  retain  it  is  to  bring  about  the  inter- 
vention of  the  United  States  or  some  other  power. 

However,  the  cries  of  the  clergymen  that  the  United  States 
swoop  down  upon  Mexico  and  at  the  point  of  a gun  perpetuate  the 
power  of  the  Catholic  church,  is  in  itself  the  greatest  indictment 
against  the  leaders  who  are  working  in  that  direction.  No  honest 
Christian  would  ever  seek  an  unnecessary  war  with  another  nation. 
Fortunately  the  American  people  and  the  Washington  administration 
are  beginning  to  realize  that  not  all  is  well  with  high  Catholic  dig- 
nitaries in  Mexico. 


11 


TRANSLATIONS. 


LETTER  from  Archbishop  Gillow  to  URRUTIA. 

Hacienda  de  Chautla,  July  11th,  1913. 

Sr.  Dr.  Aureliano  Urrutia, 

Minister  of  the  Interior, 

Mexico. 

Esteemed  Sir  and  Friend : 

I returned  to  this  Hacienda  yesterday  and  was  informed  that  up  around 
Huejotzingo,  capital  of  this  District,  things  are  rather  unsettled,  due  to  a few 
disturbers  who  molest  the  authorities,  and  consequently  disturb  public  peace. 
Having  in  mind  the  kind  offers  which  you  made  to  me  during  my  recent  visit 
in  that  city,  I now  take  the  liberty  of  addressing  you. 

The  disturbers  of  Huejotzingo  are  a certain  Luis  Pinto  and  his  brother. 
They  own  real  estate  and  small  houses  to  the  amount  of  may  be  Three  Thou- 
sand Dollars  each  in  that  locality.  They  put  on  airs  of  caciques,  and  have 
for  some  time  even  gone  so  far  as  to  pretend  to  subordinate  the  local  authori- 
ties. They  have  become  more  overbearing  since  the  time  of  Madero. 

While  Mr.  Alberto  Garcia  Granados  was  Minister  of  the  Interior,  the 
referred-to  Pinto  brothers  attempted  to  overthrow  Mr.  Enrique  Acevedo  from 
his  position  as  Governor  of  the  Province.  Mr.  Acevedo  has  maintained  the 
peace  and  well-being  in  this  district  ever  since  he  came  into  office.  As  Mr. 
Granados,  owner  of  the  Hacienda  de  Chagua,  near  Huejotzingo,  knows  Mr. 
Acevedo,  he  maintained  Mr.  Acevedo  as  Governor,  and  the  Pinto  brothers  did 
not  molest  him  any  more  until  Mr.  Grandos  resigned  the  secretaryship. 

As  Mr.  Acevedo  is  well  acquainted  with  the  intrigues  of  the  Pinto  brothers, 
he  has  kept  them  well  watched,  and  they,  resenting  this,  have  hostilized  him, 
to  the  degree  of  having  trumped  up  false  accusations  against  him  before  the 
municipality  of  Puebla.  They  did  not  however,  obtain  their  end,  for  they  were 
unable  to  obtain  his  removal,  though  he  was  for  a time  suspended  from  office, 
much  to  the  regret  of  the  honest  contingent  of  Huejotzingo.  The  Mayor 
replaced  him  during  this  time. 

On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Ramon  Vargas,  Judge  of  the  Primary  Court  of 
Claims  of  Huejotzingo,  has  been  for  three  months  working  unceasingly  to  put 
to  date  all  pending  causes,  which  had  been  accumulating,  due  to  the  fact  that 
his  predecessors,  partly  due  to  indifference  and  partly  to  fear  of  the  Revolution, 
often  absented  themselves,  abandoning  their  offices.  Among  those,  who  most 
distinguished  themselves  of  these  last  mentioned,  was  a certain  Felipe  Ramirez, 
whose  wife  is  a Huejotzingo  woman,  on  which  account  he  was  of  course 
interested  in  holding  that  position  in  Huejotzingo.  The  mother  of  the  lady  in 
question  also  found  a way  to  take  advantage  of  the  situation,  and  arranged 
things  so  that  those  who  wished  their  cases  attended  to,  had  to  have  a recom- 
mendation from  her,  if  they  wanted  a favorable  judgment.  For  this  she  was 
of  course  paid  a certain  sum,  and  she  managed  to  derive  quite  a fine  income. 

This  by-play  came  to  the  knowledge  of  Mr.  Garcia  Granados,  and  he 
managed  to  obtain  from  the  Puebla  Municipality  to  offer  the  Judge  Felipe  Ramirez, 
to  transfer  him  to  Matamoros,  which  offer  he  declined,  staying  in  Huejotzingo 
and  exercising  his  profession  of  lawyer.  This  Mr.  Ramirez  works  in  harmony 
with  the  Pinto  brothers,  and  the  three  of  them,  openly  antagonize  Acevedo 
the  Governor,  Ramon  Vargas,  the  Judge  and  Sidronio  Primo,  Commissioner 
of  the  Ministry,  who  is  an  old  employe  in  this  locality  and  who  works  together 
with  the  other  two  last  mentioned. 


12 


With  the  foregoing  details,  and  prompted  by  the  desire  to  maintain  order 
and  peace  in  this  district,  I beg  you  to  exert  your  good  influence  with  the 
government  of  Puebla,  to  have  Mr.  Acevedo  return  to  his  post,  and  to  have 
Mr.  Ramon  Vargas  the  present  Judge,  and  also  Mr.  Sodronio  Primo,  stay  in 
their  positions.  The  presence  of  Mr.  Felipe  Ramirez,  who  still  pretends  to 
occupy  the  position  of  Judge  in  this  District,  is  very  harmful  to  public  interests, 
as  is  also  the  presence  of  the  Pinto  brothers,  so  that  although  I harbor  no 
feelings  of  personal  enmity  towards  them  for  I do  not  know  them  except  from 
hearsay,  I beg  to  suggest  the  advantage  of  their  being  removed  from  this 
locality,  in  whatever  way  you  may  deem  most  appropriate. 

Kindly  forgive  the  length  of  this  letter,  but  I feel  justified  in  giving  you 
all  these  details,  for  the  sake  of  the  preservation  of  peace  in  this  region,  which 
has  some  importance  due  to  its  relations  to  Puebla  and  Mexico. 

Thanking  you  in  advance  for  whatever  you  may  deem  fit  to  do  in  the 
interests  of  the  honest  citizens  who  have  given  me  the  above  information,  and 
which  I transmit  to  you  confidentially,  I beg  to  remain, 

Very  respy  etc.,  etc., 

EULOGIO  G.  GILLOW, 

Archbishop  of  Oaxaca. 


From  Archbishop  Mora  to  Urrutia. 

Mexico,  July  12th,  1913. 

To  the  Minister  of  the  Interior,  Dr.  Aureliano  Urrutia,  Present. 

My  Esteemed  Dr.  and  Friend: 

You  have  said  to  me  more  than  once,  “Profit  by  the  present  times.  No- 
one  will  give  you  more  than  ourselves”  which  to  me  signifies  your  good  will 
towards  the  church.  Therefore,  counting  on  it,  I beg  to  put  before  you,  for 
your  consideration,  the  following: 

1.  Violating  the  laws  of  disentailment,  the  Archbishop  of  Mexico  was 

deprived  of  his  palace  in  this  capital,  and  same  has  not  been  put  to  any  use 
for  government  offices.  Could  you  not  see  that  it' was  given  back  to  me,  so  I 
could  repair  it  and  occupy  it  and  then  leave  it  to  my  successors?  If  this  could 
be  done,  he  whose  servants  we  are  would  take  account  of  your  good*  action, 
and  we  would  all  be  very  grateful  to  you.  I do  not  think  this  is  an  impos- 
sibility. , 

2.  It  also  has  occured  to  me  that  the  Government  might  make  to  the  Cathedral 
some  restitution  for  which,  even  accepting  the  new  laws  as  just,  should  have 
been  respected  and  left,  such  as:  Cash,  sacred  vases,  such  as  chalices,  shrines, 
lamps,  articles  of  silver,  jewels,  all  of  which  was  taken  from  the  cathedral. 
The  cathedral  was  also  deprived  of  the  Seminary  next  door,  and  the  houses  of 
the  chaplains,  all  of  which-  is  excepted  in  the  laws  of  disentailment.  All  this 
amounts  to  a big  sum,  for  in  only  gold  chalices,  there  were  eighteen  lost.  How 
is  this  to  be  repaid?  I have  an  idea,  which  is:  The  expenses  of  the  church, 
salary  per  month  of  the  Archbishop,  chaplains  and  priests,  sacristains,  amount 
annually  to  about  Sixty  Thousand  Dollars.  And  you  need  not  believe  that  the 
salaries  are  high,  for  the  Archbishop  has  a salary  of  only  $750  per  month, 
and  with  this  sum  he  has  to  attend  the  victualling,  dress,  servants,  household 
expenses  and  alms,  of  which  he  has  many  as  all  the  poor  of  the  city  go  to  him 
for  help.  The  canons  have  a salary  of  $120  monthly,  and  the  chaplains  of  the 
choir  from  $30  to  $40.  So  that  as  you  can  well  figure  out,  their  living  has  to 
be  very  modest,  for  out  of  these  salaries  they  have  to  pay  house  rent,  food 
and  dress.  What  is  left  out  of  the  $60,000  mentioned,  after  paying  expenses,  is 
used  for  repairs  to  the  house  and  ornaments.  At  present,  we  have  a deficit 
every  year,  which  deficit  we  of  course  try  to  keep  as  low  as  possible.  The 
parishioners  contributions,  which  is  the  only  thing  we  can  count  on  towards 
the  support  of  the  church,  diminishes  every  year. 

13 


In  consideration  of  all  the  above,  the  Government  could  do  us  a great 
favor,  by  giving  us  a capital  which  should  produce  enough  to  be  able  to  keep 
what  we  have  now.  This  capital  should  be  of  ONE  MILLION  DOLLARS, 
and  this  would  be  less,  much  less  than  (even  admitting  the  laws  which  at  that 
time  deprived  the  church  of  its  property),  was  taken  unjustly  away  from  the 
Church. 

This  capital  could  be  handed  over  to  the  church  in  parts,  from  economies 
made  on  certain  expenses,  and  the  money  could  be  put  into  shares,  bonuses, 
etc.,  etc.  This  would  enable  the  Cathedral  to  be  better  attended  to,  making  the 
necessary  reparations,  and  decorating  it  conveniently. 

Think  this  over  well,  my  dear  Minister,  and  act  according  to  the  dictates 
of  your  good  heart  of  Christian  and  patriot,  and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  call 
you  our  Great  Benefactor. 

With  all  due  respect,  I remain,  etc.,  etc., 

JOSE,  Archbishop  of  Mexico. 

LETTER  from  the  ARCHBISHOP  of  PUEBLA  to  URRUTIA. 

Puebla,  July  12th,  1913. 

To  his  Honor  Minister  URRUTIA, 

Mexico. 

Very  Esteemed  Sir: 

Your  favor  of  t*he  9th  inst.  duly  to  hand  and  in  reply  I beg  to  say  that  I 
shall  be  very  pleased  to  assist  you  by  working  along  the  lines  suggested  by 
you.  I shall  only  wait  now  until  I hear  from  Mr.  Gillow  so  that  we  may  come 
to  an  understanding  on  a matter  as  delicate  and  important  as  the  one  in  question. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you  in  all  your  undertakings,  and  I beg  to  remain  as 
always  at  your  service. 

Very  respectfully,  etc.,  etc., 

RAMON,  Archbishop  of  Puebla. 

LETTER  from  the  ARCHBISHOP  of  OAXACA,  to  DR. 
URRUTIA. 

Oaxaca,  July  24th,  1913. 

My  Esteemed  Friend: 

In  view  of  the  benevolence  which  you  have  always  shown  towards  me,  I 
now  beg  to  address  you  regarding  a subject  which  I consider  of  the  utmost 
importance.  Although  it  does  not  regard  the  department  in  your  charge 
directly,  it  is  nevertheless  closely  connected  with  it,  and  is  a matter  of  universal 
importance  to  the  republic. 

Before  granting  concessions  for  the  international  and  inter-oceanic  rail- 
ways, General  Porfirio  Diaz  organized  a commission,  consisting  of  a lawyer, 
an  engineer  and  myself,  to  study  and  report  on  the  already  mentioned  con- 
cessions which  meant  so  much  to  the  country.  During  two  months  I gave 
myself  up  to  the  study  of  this  question,  and  the  Commission  presented  eighteen 
reports  embracing  the  different  points  of  the  subject,  including  a special  state- 
ment by  me,  as  I did  not  agree  with  the  two  others  on  certain  points  which  I 
considered  essential,  and  because  I was  of  the  opinion  that  a big  reduction 
could  be  made  in  the  subventions  demanded  by  the  grantees. 

Time  has  proved  that  my  ideas  were  correct,  relative  to  the  delay  in  the 
construction  of  the  interoceanic  roads,  and  as  to  the  advisability  of  building 
a broad-gauge  railway  from  Mexico  to  Laredo  right  from  the  start. 

At  that  time,  the  Tehuantepec  Railroad  did  not  have  the  importance  that 
it  has  now,  and  the  Commission  did  not  give  any  consideration  to  that  point, 
taking  it  for  granted  that  later  on  the  interests  of  the  nation  would  take  up 
the  question  of  connections  with  the  Isthmus  and  the  extension  south  to 
Guatemala,  which  would  put  us  in  communication  with  Central  and  South 
America. 


14 


Just  now,  I cannot  get  it  out  of  my  mind,  that  of  all  the  R.  R.  that  are 
being  planned  for  the  republic,  there  are  two  lines  which  shoulld  have  the 
preference,  because  they  will  be  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  future  and 
because  they  complete  our  railway  system  across  the  country.  I refer  to  the 
prolongation  of  the  Oaxaca  R.  R.  to  Tehuantepec,  and  which,  starting  from 
the  Isthmus  R.  R.  would  connect  us  with  the  different  states  of  the  Yucatan 
peninsula.  I understand  that  this  concession  has  already  been  granted,  and 
that  the  plans  were  being  made  ready  when  the  revolution  started. 

The  prolongation  of  the  R.  R.  to  Oaxaca  or  rather  to  Tlacolula,  as  the 
track  is  already  laid  up  to  that  city,  is  that  to  which  I wish  to  call  your  best 
attention,  and  also  that  of  the  President  of  the  Republic.  At  present,  to  com- 
municate from  Mexico  to  Tehuantepec,  the  Government  has  to  make  use  of 
three  different  railways:  the  Mexican  RY  up  to  Cordoba,  the  Vera  Cruz 
Pacific  up  to  Sta.  Lucrecia,  and  the  Interoceanic  of  the  Isthmus.  For  any 
military  mobilization,  the  inconvenience  and  delay  occasioned  by  this  system 
is  evident,  and,  should  one  of  these  three  lines  be  cut  by  the  revolutionists,  the 
Government  would  have  no  communication  with  the  Tehuantepec  and  Pan- 
American  R.  R. — which  connects  us  with  Guatemala. 

This  proves  the  necessity  of  completing  as  soon  as  possible,  the  line  from 
Mexico  to  Tehuantepec,  via  Puebla  and  Oaxaca,  which  line,  though  not  the 
shortest,  at  least  has  not  the  inconvenience  of  the  steep  ascent  and  decline  of 
the  summits  of  Maltrata,  but  which  instead,  descends  gradually  from  Puebla 
to  the  coast. 

The  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec  has  without  doubt,  a great  future  ahead, 
for  it  is,  using  Baron  Humboldt’s  expression,  “the  bridge  of  the  universe”  con- 
necting on  one  side,  Asia  and  Europe,  and  on  the  other  North  and  South 
America. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  is  to  give  us  a route  by  water, 
without  having  to  trans-ship  merchandise,  one  must  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact 
of  the  increased  distance  by  water,  between  New  York  and  San  Francisco,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  inconvenience  of  passing  the  locks  and  the  charges  for 
same.  Whereas,  the  Tehuantepec  R.  R.  has  already  sufficient  traffic  assured  to 
guarantee  its  .existence,  and  the  cost  of  transshipment  can  therefore  be  reduced 
to  a minimum. 

The  prolongation  of  this  Railroad  regards  closely  the  department  of  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior,  for  in  time  of  revolution  this  would  give  them  a firmer 
hold  on — the  State  of  Oaxaca.  Lately  it  has  been  seen  how,  once  the  Southern 
Mexican  cut,  we  have  been  without  communications  with  Central  Mexico  for 
a long  time,  whereas,  if  the  prolongation  referred  to  existed,  going  round  by 
that  way  to  Tehuantepec,  the  State  would  be  better  off  and  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment would  have  the  necessary  means  to  successfully  fight  a rebellion. 

This  is  of  greater  importance  in  a state  like  Oaxaca,  because  it  is  so 
mountainous  and  because  it  has  an  outlet  to  both  oceans,  the  Gulf  and  the 
Pacific. 

To  finish  herewith,  I am  greatly  interested  in  the  construction  of  the  prolonga- 
tion in  question  for  the  advantage  of  the  people  of  my  diocese.  I have  travelled 
through  the  state  twice  and  I can  assert  that  it  is  one  of  the  richest  in  the 
republic,  for  its  mining  as  well  as  for  its  agricultural  products,  but  I consider 
it  poor  in  spite  of  its  having  one  million  inhabitants  because  it  lacks  rapid  and 
economical  ways  of  communication. 

While  waiting  for  the  construction  of  railways  along  the  Pacific  coast  and 
the  coast  of  Tuxtepec  to  this  capital,  it  is  necessary  to  construct  at  least  a 
central  line  which  will  traverse  the  State  up  to  Tehuantepec. 

These  valleys  which  surround  the  capital  have  an  exuberance  of  inhabitants, 
and  the  products  of  their  lands  are  hardly  sufficient  to  supply  their  own  needs. 
This  explains  the  general  poverty  existing,  there  being  no  exports,  and  it  is 
also  explained  by  the  emigration  of  oaxaquenos  to  other  states,  it  having  been 
calculated  that  only  in  Mexico  City  there  are  more  than  three  thousand  oaxa- 


IS 


quenos,  who  would  surely  come  back  t 3 their  native  state,  could  they  make  their 
living  there. 

I hope  you  will  excuse  my  having  occupied  your  time  with  such  a lengthy 
letter.  I have  read  in  the  papers  that  the  Government  was  negotiating  the  con- 
struction of  some  railways,  I have  thought  it  right  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
above,  so  that  if  possible,  you  might  give  them  the  preference. 

With  the  assurance  of  my  profound  respect,  I beg  to  remain, 

Very  truly  yours,  etc., 

EULOGIO  G.  GILLOW, 

Archbishop  of  Oaxaca. 

LETTER  from  DR.  URRUTIA  to  the  ARCHBISHOP  of 
Oaxaca. 

August  2d,  1913. 

Very  Illustrious  Sir: 

Your  favor  of  July  24th  received  and  I have  read  it  over  with  great  at- 
tention, and  considering  your  suggestion  relative  to  the  construction  of  a 
Railroad  from  Oaxaca  to  Tehuantepec,  of  great  importance,  not  only  from  the 
military  point  of  view,  but  also  for  the  convenience  of  the  public  in  general, 
I shall  take  an  interest  and  see  that  your  suggestion  is  carried  out  as  soon  as 
circumstances  permit,  which  I trust  will  be  very  soon,  for  we  have  good  reasons 
to  believe  that  peace  will  soon  be  established  all  throughout  the  republic. 

I beg  to  reiterate  my  appreciation  and  respects. 

URRUTIA. 

LETTER  OF  THE  ARCHBISHOP  of  MICHOACAN  to 
Minister  URRUTIA. 

September  11th,  1913. 

My  dear  Compadre : 

The  timely  measures  taken  by  you  saved  this  city  from  being  ravaged  by 
the  rebel  gangs  which  have  been  concentrating  in  these  localities  to  the  number 
of  over  a thousand  strong,  but  now,  I think  I can  assure  you  that  if  the  detach- 
ment which  has  just  arrived,  pursues  them,  this  part  of  the  State  will  soon  be 
pacified. 

The  principal  object  of  this  letter  is  to  ask  you  to  relieve  me  of  a great 
anxiety  under  which  I am  laboring,  and  which  has  been  caused  by  the  aggres- 
sive and  almost  scandalous  attitude  taken  in  public  by  Mr.  Calero  and  a small 
group  of  porristas,  against  your  good  self.  I can  well  see  that  their  object  is 
to  tarnish  the  glory  which  you  have  so  justly  won,  and  to  alienate  your  adherents 
all  over  the  Republic. 

But  they  will  not  accomplish  anything,  because  all  the  sensible  men  know 
full  well  the  envy  and  intrigues  that  animate  these  degraded  people.  Although 
I am  at  ease  on  that  score,  my  profound  sympathy  and  affection  for  you  make 
me  fear  that  these  men’s  intrigues  might  put  obstacles  on  the  path  that  Our 
Lord  and  His  Blessed  Mother  have  put  before  you  to  climb  to  the  culminating 
position  of  Chief  Executive  of  the  Republic,  which  position  will  require  of  you 
the  greatest  sacrifice,  but  will  at  the  same  time  lay  before  you  a vast  field  in 
which  to  exercise  your  activity  for  the  glory  and  honor  of  God,  and  for  the 
benefit  of  our  beloved  country. 

In  the  meantime  I beg  of  you  to  tell  me  confidentially  if  this  threat,  of 
Calero  is  to  be  feared,  or  whether  you  think  it  will  be  easy  for  you  to  humiliate 
the  efforts  of  these  upstarts. 

Your  compadre,  etc., 

JENARO  MEND 


\ \ \ 


16 


PHOTOMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 

Manufactured  by 
GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 
iyrocu**,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Collf. 


